Envelope

ABSTRACT

A side-seam envelope having, on its back panel, a tab defined by a tab die cut spaced a sort distance from the bottom edge of the back panel and a pair of tear lines extending upwardly from the free ends of the die cut to at least the free bottom edge of the flap in its secured position.

ited States Patent Groteiend 51 ar.28,i972

[54] ENVELOPE William H. Grotefend, Bowie, Md.

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Computing 8: Software, lnc., Century City, Los Angeles,Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 93,012

[52] US. Cl. ..229/85, 229/51 TS [5 1] Int. Cl. .,..B43m 5/00, B43m 7/00[58] Field of Search ..229/85, 51 TS [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,306,224 6/l919 Godley ..229/85 1,336,646 4/1920 Mendenhall..229/85 X 2,349,234 Barker .229/85 2,828,065 3/1958 Heywood. ..229/853,227,359 H1966 l-Ianlon..... .229/51 TS X 3,297,235 1/1967 Robbins..229/85 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 575,866 3/l946 Great Britain..229/85 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney-Cushman, Darby &Cushman [57] ABSTRACT A side-seam envelope having, on its back panel, atab defined by a tab die cut spaced a sort distance from the bottom edgeof the back panel and a pair of tear lines extending upwardly from thefree ends of the die cut to at least the free bottom edge of the flap inits secured position.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmza I972 INVENTOR Ma A/flM/i 6: 70riff/v.0

ENVELOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to anenvelope and more particularly I to a side-seam envelope having anopening device which insures easy access to the envelope and fulldisclosure of the contents thereof.

In an era of mass mailings, emphasis has been on envelope constructionswhich provide quick and easy devices for opening the envelope. Suchdevices include tear strips along an edge of the envelope or tear-out,triangular sections on the back of a diagonal-seam envelope, such asdisclosed in the US. Pat. to Robbins, No. 3,297,285 of Jan. 10, 1967. Onthe other hand, some devices work from the front side of the envelope inconjunction with the window, such as the tear strip in Heywood, U.S.Pat..No. 2,828,065 of Mar. 25, 1958.

There is no attempt in any of these inventions to provide a devicewhich, when opened, will disclose the entire contents of the envelope tothe viewer. In each instance, one end or an end panel is ripped therebyenabling one to easily remove the contents from the ripped end of theenvelope. Some individuals will not take the time to open an envelopenor, once opened, will they take the time to remove and examine all ofthe contents. Rather, the envelope and its contents find the wastebasketbefore the viewer is hit with the selling message.

In order to get the selling message to the addressee, it is desirable tohave an easy means of opening the envelope and furthermore to haveameans which will disclose a sufficient portion of the major sellingmessage to attract the interest of the addressee. There are someproblems with the prior art which relates to quick opening devices. Mostmass mailing envelopes have window constructions. Therefore, any attemptto remove a substantial portion of the front panel of the envelope iscomplicated because of the construction of the window. Devices whichstart at the window and work towards one edge of the envelope do notdisclose a sufficient portion of thecontents of the envelope. A furtherproblem encountered with devices which operate on the front side of theenvelope is that the top and most readily viewable insert, once aportion of the front panel has been torn away, is the address sheet orthe reverse side of the return envelope, since the address appearingthereon must show through the window.

If the envelope is turned over so that the most important message wouldbe readily viewable once the back panel is removed, another problem ispresented. The envelopes shown in the prior art are generallydiagonal-seam envelopes. It is quite easy to position the tear lines 'sothat one panel of the diagonal-seam envelope can be removed. However,where it is necessary to remove more than one panel, the tear lines mustpass across sealed seams. Since the tear lines are cut in the envelopeblank before it is folded, it is readily apparent that it is quitedifficult to register the cuts forming the tear line at the overlappingseams. Moreover, when the envelope is glued, the glue might seep throughthe tear cuts and completely defeat the purpose of the tear line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is designed for use inmass mailings. Its purpose is two fold. First, like other envelopes,there is provided a device which enables the envelope to be easilyopened. Second, the opening device is constructed in such a way that themost important message is readily viewable when the envelope is opened.

1n the present invention the envelope uses a side seam so that the majorportion of the back panel is free of glued seams. The tear line startswith a die cut defining a tab adjacent the bottom edge of the back paneland proceeds upwardly to the bottom edge of the flap in its sealedposition. At that point, the tear line can stop; it can proceed underthe flap to the upper edge of the back panel; or it can proceed alongthe free edge of the flap in its sealed position to a point where itintersects a free edge of the back panel of the envelope. In someconstructions this point might occur on an edge which overlies a sideseam. In such constructions, it is contemplated that the glued portionof the side seam would terminate short of the overlapping tear line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a back, plan view of theenvelope in a sealed condition with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary back plan view of a modification of the tearline in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary back plan view of another modification of thetear line in FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary 'back plan view of still another modification ofthe tear line in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary back plan view of the envelope in FIG. 1 afterit has been ripped open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 comprises a plan view of thebackside of a side-seam envelope 10. The envelope includes a front panel12, a back panel 14', and a flap 16. The front panel 12 has upper 18 andbottom 20 edges and opposed side edges 22. A pair of opposed side seams24 are integrally connected to the front panel along the side edges 22.The side seams are folded back to lie adjacent or contiguous to thefront panel. The back panel has upper 26 and bottom 28 edges and opposedside edges 30. The bottom edge 28 of the back panel is integrallysecured to the bottom edge 20 of the front panel. The back panel isfolded up to lie adjacent or contiguous to the front panel and issecured to each side seam 24 along at least a portion of the side seamby an adhesive means shown at 32. The upper edge 26 of the back paneldefines the throat of the envelope.

The flap 16 is integrally secured to the front panel along the upperedge 18 of the front panel and has the usual adhesive strip 34 adjacentits free bottom edge 36. The flap is adapted to be folded back in theusual manner and to be secured by the adhesive strip 34 to the backpanel.

An opening means is provided on the back panel for providing an easymethod for opening the envelope while simultaneously providing a fulldisclosure of the inserts not shown, in the envelope. The opening meanscomprises a tab 40 defined by the area between a' tab die cut 42extending through the back panel and having two upwardly turned, freeends 44. As illustrated, the tab die cut is arcuate or cresent in shape,but within the scope of the invention it could take variousconfigurations. The free, upwardly turned ends 44 insure that the tab,when pulled to initiate the tear, will start an upward tear leading tothe top of the back panel.

The lowermost point 46 on the tab die cut is spaced a short distance 47from the bottom edge 28 of the back panel. If the lowermost point on thetab die cut occurred at the bottom edge of the panel, it could be easilyripped when the front and back panels are folded during the manufactureof the envelope. Moreover, if the lowermost point on the die cut fellexactly on the bottom edge of the envelope, it might be ripped duringmailing. The lowermost point 46 on the tab die cut is spaced a shortdistance from the bottom edge of the back panel to permit a fulldisclosure of the contents of the envelope when it is ripped opened.Furthermore, if this point was spaced more than a short distance fromthe bottom edge of the back panel, the inserts, mechanically placed inthe envelope, might snag on the tab die cut. If the tab die cut is onlya short distance from the bottom edge, such as one-eighth of an inch,the flap can still be folded over the inserts and sealed if the insertssnag, since there is generally greater than one-eighth of an inchclearance between the upper edge of the front panel and the top of theinserts when fully inserted in the envelope.

A tear line 48 extends upwardly from each free end 44 of the die cut toat least the free bottom edge 36 of the flap in a secured position. Thetear line is not directly connected to the lAln'ln mun free end 44 ofthe die cut but the pulling of the tab will result in the paper betweenthe free end of the tab die cut and the tear line being easily ripped.It will be noted that the adhesive strip 32 of the flap, when it is inits secured position, falls between the opposed tear lines 48. When theenvelope is torn open along the tab die cut and tear line, the backpanel is divided into a torn portion 50 and a remaining portion 52, asfurther illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the adhesive strip 32 of the flapis secured to the torn portion 50 and terminates short of the remainingportion 52 of the back panel.

The arrangement of the tear lines could take a variety ofconfigurations. Preferably, the tear lines diverge as they move upwardlyfrom the tab die out. As the tear lines diverge (assuming somethinggreater than a minimal divergence), there is apt to be a tendency forthe tear not to follow the lines unless there is some reinforcement inthe torn portion. It will be found, for instance with respect to theenvelope illustrated in FIG. 1, that the tear will diverge from the tearlines when the flap is not secured to the back panel. The point ofdivergence is approximately halfway up the tear line. At this point, thetendency for the tear to assume a vertical path is greater than itstendency to follow the diverging, inclined path of the tear line. Theability of the tear to follow the tear line depends in part upon thedepth and amount of support which the secured flap gives to the tornportion of the back panel. It might even be possible to arrange tearlines in any given configuration so long as the torn portion isreinforced by some means, such as a clear plastic compound applied tothe back panel between the tear lines.

In FIG. 1, the tear lines extend upwardly toward a corner of theenvelope. As illustrated, the envelope has a McIntyre cut 54 whichexposes a portion of the side seam 24. This cut is desirable for usewith mechanical inserting machines since a vacuum means operates on theexposed side seam to lift the back panel during mechanical insertion ofthe envelope contents. The tear lines extend up to the adjacentproximity of the McIntyre cut, but do not in this embodiment, nor in anyother embodiment, intersect the edge of the back panel. Otherwise, thiscut, raw edge might cause jamming or tearing during mechanicalinsertion. As shown, the tear lines extend under the corners 56 of theflap, with the adhesive strip terminating short of these corners.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each tear line rises more abruptlyand extends up to the bottom edge 36 of the flap and then under thebottom edge of the flap to the upper edge 26 of the back panel. Again,the tear line terminates in the adjacent proximity of the upper edge,but does not actually intersect this edge. The adhesive portion of theflap in its secured position falls between the tear lines.

Each tear line shown in FIG. 3 terminates at the bottom edge of theflap. At this point, the adhesive portion of the flap lies within animaginary vertical line drawn from a termination of the tear line to theupper edge of the back panel. In operation, the tear line is followed upto the bottom edge of the flap or, for that matter, a slight distanceunder the flap, and then follows a free tear, which is generallyvertical in direction, through the paper. The tear is effective becausethe adhesive portion of the flap remains on the torn portion of the backpanel and terminates short of the remaining portion of the back panel.In essence, the free tear follows the most direct approach from thetermination of tear line to the upper edge of the back panel. Thisembodiment is probably less desirable than that shown in FIG. 2, forinstance, since the free tear is less attractive than the finished tear.

Still a further modification is shown in FIG. 4 where each tear lineextends upwardly to the free bottom edge of the flap in a securedposition and then turns outwardly and approximately follows the freebottom edge of the flap to a free edge of the back panel. This design ismost effective when used in conjunction with a V-flap such as disclosedin FIG. 4. When the tear line follows the free bottom edge of the flap,it generally intersects an edge of the back panel at a point whichoverlies the side seam. Accordingly, it is necessary in this embodirnentto short-glue the side seams so that the adhesive means 32 does notinterfere with the tear strip.

The tear line itself could assume a number of configurations. Forinstance, the tear line could comprise a plurality of spacedperforations, but a tear line having this configuration is often hard tofollow when diverging from the direction of pull. The same problem alsooccurs with respect to a plurality of spaced, end-to-end slits sincesuch a tear line is hard to follow as you pull up on atriangular-shaped, tom panel. Preferably, the tear line comprises aplurality of spaced slits 58 which are illustrated as being straight.Each of the slits is obliquely inclined with respect to the direction ofthe tear. The slits are laterally displaced outwardly with respect tothe subjacent slit and laterally displaced inwardly with respect to thesuperjacent slit. Thus, adjacent slits are partially overlapping so thatthe configuration of the tear (see FIGS. 1 and 5) follows the slit lineto its upper, outer end and then passes, approximately vertically, tothe superjacent slit where it again follows the contour of that slit toits upper, outer end. The tear path thus has a stepped effect which isillustrated in FIG. 5. If the overall tear line is approximatelystraight, as is preferable, the slits will be approximately parallel. Bybeing obliquely inclined, there is a reduced tendency for the slits tointerfere with the mechanical insertion of contents into the envelope.

In one operative model of the invention, an envelope 4 k 7 %inches had atab die cut having its lowermost point threesixteenth inch from thebottom edge. The angle between the two tear lines was approximately witheach slit being obliquely inclined from a horizontal at approximately 15(i.e., the cut angle). The slits were approximately three-eighth inchlong and spaced vertically from each other by one-eighth inch.

It should be readily apparent that there are infinite variationsdepending basically upon the size of the envelope and the angle of thetear or action line". It is readily apparent that the greater the cutangle, the better the tearing action. Moreover, there is a directrelationship between the length of each slit or cut and the number ofparallel cuts as well as the vertical distance between adjacentslits-the longer the slit the fewer the parallel cuts and the greaterthe vertical distance between the slits.

The invention has disclosed the tear lines falling on the back panel. Ifthe envelope has, by chance, a reverse flap, the flap would be securedto the front side or at least to the side with the address and postage.If there was a window, the tear lines could go around the window so thatthe window would lay within the torn portion of the panel. Of course, inthis construction, one advantage of the invention is negated because theaddress label or return envelope is the first thing disclosed uponopening the envelope. Within the scope of the invention, however, theback panel is defined as the panel to which the flap is adapted to besecured.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated in thedrawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear thatconsiderable modification may be made thereto without departing from theprinciples of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing should beconsidered in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting sense, andaccordingly the extent of this invention should be limited only by thespirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A side-seam envelope comprising:

a front panel having upper and bottom edges and opposed side edges;

a pair of opposed side seams, each side seam being integrally connectedto the front panel along one of said side edges and being folded back tolie adjacent the front panel;

a back panel having upper and bottom edges, the bottom edge of the backpanel being integrally secured to the bottom edge of the front panel,the back panel being folded up to lie adjacent the front panel and beingsecured to each side seam along at least a portion of the side seam;

a flap integrally secured to the front panel along the upper edge of thefront panel, the fiap having an adhesive strip adjacent its free bottomedge, the flap adapted to be folded back and secured to the back panelby said adhesive strip;

a tab defined by the area between a tab die cut extending through theback panel and having two upwardly turned, free ends, the lowermostpoint on the tab die cut being spaced a short distance from the edge ofthe back panel; and

means defining a tear line out through the back panel and extendingupwardly from each free end of the die cut to at least the free bottomedge of the flap in its secured position, the tear line when fully torndividing the back panel into a torn portion and a remaining portion, theadhesive portion of the flap in its secured position on the back panelterminating short of the remaining portion of the back panel.

2. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein the tab die cut iscrescent-shaped.

3. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein the tear lines diverge asthey move upwardly from the tab die cut.

4. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein each tear line comprises aplurality of spaced slits.

5. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein each slit is straight.

6. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein each slit is obliquelyinclined with respect the direction of the tear.

7. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein each slit is approximatelyparallel to the adjacent slit.

8. The envelope defined in claim 7 wherein each slit is laterallydisplaced outwardly with respect to the subjacent slit and partiallyoverlaps the subjacent slit.

9. The envelope defined in claim 8 wherein each slit is obliquelyinclined.

10. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein each slit is laterallydisplaced outwardly with respect to the subjacent slit and laterallydisplaced inwardly with respect to the superjacent slit and wherein eachslit partially overlaps the subjacent slit and is partially overlappedby the superjacent slit.

11. The envelope defined in claim 10 wherein each slit is obliquelyinclined.

12. The envelope defined in claim ll wherein the angle between the tearlines is approximately 13. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein eachtear line terminates short of the side seam.

14. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein each tear line extendsupwardly and terminates adjacent the upper edge of the back panel andunder the flap.

15. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein each tear line extendsupwardly and terminates adjacent the bottom free edge of the flap in itssecured position.

16. The envelope defined in claim 11 wherein the upper portion of eachside seam is free of any adhesive connection to the back panel andwherein each tear line extends upwardly and outwardly until the tearline is adjacent an edge of the back panel overlapping an unsecuredportion of the side seam.

17. The envelope defined in claim ll wherein each tear line extendsupwardly to at least the free bottom edge of the flap in its securedposition and wherein the tear line then turns outwardly andapproximately follows the free bottom edge of the flap in its securedposition until the tear line is adjacent a free edge of the back panel.

18. The envelope defined in claim 17 wherein said free edge of the backpanel overlaps an unsecured portion of the side seam.

1. A side-seam envelope comprising: a front panel having upper andbottom edges and opposed side edges; a pair of opposed side seams, eachside seam being integrally connected to the front panel along one ofsaid side edges and being folded back to lie adjacent the front panel; aback panel having upper and bottom edges, the bottom edge of the backpanel being integrally secured to the bottom edge of the front panel,the back panel being folded up to lie adjacent the front panel and beingsecured to each side seam along at least a portion of the side seam; aflap integrally secured to the front panel along the upper edge of thefront panel, the flap having an adhesive strip adjacent its free bottomedge, the flap adapted to be folded back and secured to the back panelby said adhesive strip; a tab defined by the area between a tab die cutextending through the back panel and having two upwardly turned, freeends, the lowermost point on the tab die cut being spaced a shortdistance from the bottom edge of the back panel; and means defining atear line cut through the back panel and extending upwardly from eachfree end of the die cut to at least the free bottom edge of the flap inits secured position, the tear line when fully torn dividing the backpanel into a torn portion and a remaining portion, the adhesive portionof the flap in its secured position on the back panel terminating shortof the remaining portion of the back panel.
 2. The envelope defined inclaim 1 wherein the tab die cut is crescent-shaped.
 3. The envelopedefined in claim 1 wherein the tear lines diverge as they move upwardlyfrom the tab die cut.
 4. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein eachtear line comprises a plurality of spaced slits.
 5. The envelope definedin claim 4 wherein each slit is straight.
 6. The envelope defined inclaim 4 wherein each slit is obliquely inclined with respect to thedirection of the tear.
 7. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein eachslit is approximately parallel to the adjacent slit.
 8. The envelopedefined in claim 7 wherein each slit is laterally displaced outwardlywith respect to the subjacent slit and partially overlaps the subjacentslit.
 9. The envelope defined in claim 8 wherein each slit is obliquelyinclined.
 10. The envelope defined in claim 4 wherein each slit islaterally displaced outwardly with respect to the subjacent slit andlaterally displaced inwardly with respect to the superjacent slit andwherein each slit partially overlaps the subjacent slit and is partiallyoverlapped by the superjacent slit.
 11. The envelope defined in claim 10wherein each slit is obliquely inclined.
 12. The envelope defined inclaim 1 wherein the angle between the tear lines is approximately 80* .13. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein each tear line terminatesshort of the side seam.
 14. The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein eachtear line extends upwardly and terminates adjaceNt the upper edge of theback panel and under the flap.
 15. The envelope defined in claim 1wherein each tear line extends upwardly and terminates adjacent thebottom free edge of the flap in its secured position.
 16. The envelopedefined in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of each side seam is freeof any adhesive connection to the back panel and wherein each tear lineextends upwardly and outwardly until the tear line is adjacent an edgeof the back panel overlapping an unsecured portion of the side seam. 17.The envelope defined in claim 1 wherein each tear line extends upwardlyto at least the free bottom edge of the flap in its secured position andwherein the tear line then turns outwardly and approximately follows thefree bottom edge of the flap in its secured position until the tear lineis adjacent a free edge of the back panel.
 18. The envelope defined inclaim 17 wherein said free edge of the back panel overlaps an unsecuredportion of the side seam.